Thousands line streets as Queen Elizabeth's coffin leaves her home
QUEEN Elizabeth’s coffin began a 6-hour journey from her summer home in the Scottish Highlands to Edinburgh on Sunday (Sep 11) as thousands lined the route in tribute to the late monarch, many in sombre silence, some applauding and others in tears.
Shortly after 0900 GMT, a hearse carrying Elizabeth’s oak coffin emerged from the gates of Balmoral Castle, where she died on Thursday aged 96, to drive slowly towards the Scottish capital.
The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland with a wreath on top made up of flowers taken from the Balmoral estate including sweet peas, one of Elizabeth’s favourites.
In an emotional tribute to his mother on Friday, the new monarch King Charles said she had begun a “last great journey” to join her husband of 73 years Prince Philip, who died last year.
The cortege from Balmoral is the first of a series of events leading up to the state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on Sep 19.
Her death has drawn tears, sadness and warm tributes, not just from the queen’s own close family and many in Britain, but also from around the globe – reflecting her presence on the world stage for 7 decades.
As the hearse reached the small village of Ballater near Balmoral, hundreds stood beside the road in silence in bright morning sunshine as the hearse passed, some throwing flowers into the road.
“It’s like a family member, it overwhelms – the sadness – that she’s not going to be with us,” said Elizabeth Alexander, 69, who was born on the day the queen was crowned in 1953.
“We’ve travelled quite a while today to come here but felt it was really important to come and pay respects as she passed through Ballater,” a tearful Nicola Gibson said. “I suppose like everybody else, just lots of emotions.” REUTERS
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